J was saying that Feyerabend's eliminative materialism lasted from Oct. 1956 to Nov. 1962. So what?
Once an eliminative materialist, all-ways an eliminative materialist.
--- In a way, this differs from Grice. Grice found Russell's "My philosophical development" a bore.
"Philosophers don't develop," he would say.
Grice never changed ONE idea in his lifetime.
I would often discuss this with Arlo-Costa whose PhD is on 'belief change'. I would say, "Surely it is impossible to change a belief". "It may, for you", he would reassure me.
Where did I say that, JLster? I said his views probably changed, no dates offered.
ReplyDeleteThis brings up another point, however, on the politics of...metaphysics in a sense. Which is to say, the proof's in the pudding: when someone does the right thing, then they do the right thing, regardless if eliminative materialist, atheist, catholic, muslim, buddhist whatever. Or so it seems.
A ...Rational Deity would hopefully forgive the intellectual sins of a doubter such as Thomas Jefferson (or Russell, or Feyerabend) rather than approve of zealots such as Jerry Falwell, Brigham Young or Rev. Wright. But who knows.
A somewhat virtuous...skeptic, or even atheist offends me less than hysterical biblethumpers (or koran-thumpers, torah-thumpers etc) regardless if I in complete agreement with their metaphysics...(or anti-metaphysics). Same for like AC Grayling--he seems like a decent chap, though I don't completely approve of his methods...it's a bit more complex perhaps...but some traditional catholics for instance (and orthodox jews and muslims) often don't get that. A person's evil merely for belonging to the wrong club (then, I tend to agree, when they belong to evil clubs such as bapticks, masons or mormonics), regardless of the persons' actual deeds....
OK --! Someone should provide the dates! I was TEASING. Whenever you think something else is happening, blame it on my tease!
ReplyDeleteI love you, J! Especially your nod to the "Grice" club! Should find out more about this $tanford entry on the quantum-mechanical identities and individuations, too. Etc.
ReplyDelete